Did Melissa Gilbert ad violate law? Sponsors say no

A radio ad has begun airing featuring congressional candidate Melissa Gilbert discussing Mother's Day items available at two businesses in downtown Howell.

Is it a back-door political ad? Its sponsors say no and the Federal Election Commission appears to agree, at least for now. Yet, the ad highlights the increasingly blurry line between celebrity and politics.

"It's not a political ad at all. In fact, it was even recorded last year (before Gilbert declared for Congress)," said Kim Wilson of Carriage House Designs.

Carriage House, a floral and gift shop in Howell, is one of two local businesses featured in the ad, which began airing again this week on local radio station.

In the ad, Gilbert extols Carriage House, as well as clothing store Le Boutique and downtown Howell in general. The ad also features Renee Chodkowski, a local celebrity cook better known as The Great Foodini.

The ad doesn't appear to violate federal election law. In a similar case dating back to 2012, the FEC deadlocked on whether broadcast ads for an Oklahoma congressional candidate's plumbing business qualified as political ads.

While Michigan's election division holds no jurisdiction over congressional races, and staff declined to comment on any specific race, a spokesman said similar ads featuring state candidates would likely be permissible so long as they avoided mentioning the candidate, their opponent or any election issue.

In the ad featuring Gilbert, no mention is made of the fact that she is now running for Congress. Its presence on local airwaves even caught Gilbert's campaign staff a bit off guard when questioned about it Monday, though a spokesperson subsequently confirmed the ad predated the former TV star's entry into politics.

Wilson said the businesses paid for the ad and that Gilbert wasn't compensated for her services.

"She did if for free. How great is that?" Wilson said. "She's a big supporter of downtown and she wanted to help."

Gilbert, a Democrat, is challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Bishop, R-Rochester, in the race for Michigan's 8th U.S. House District. The district includes Livingston and Ingham counties as well as northern Oakland County.